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(CNN Spanish) - Clashes between protesters and police were registered in Viña del Mar, Chile, this Sunday, the same day that the International Festival of Viña del Mar began, one of the most important events in Latin America.
According to the authorities, between 500 and 800 protesters tried to prevent the festival from taking place.
"We knew through social networks and other channels that there were groups of vandals and criminals who wanted to prevent the performance of this festival," said Jorge Martínez, spokesman for the mayor of Valparaíso, Sunday night.
“They did not succeed. The festival was held, 15,000 people entered all the artists and support people, ”Martínez added. "Given this impotence they are dedicated to destroy, break and steal, those Chileans do not want social reforms, they do not want plebiscite, they only want violence and destruction."
Since October 2019, demonstrations have been carried out against the government of President Sebastián Piñera in various parts of the country. So far there are 31 dead in the riots.
"They had the clear objective of obstructing the failure of the Vineyard Festival," said General Hugo Zenteno, chief of the Carabineros area.
"There is an uprising of what happened, both looting, we have detainees, between 13 and 15 arrested for looting, for attack against the authority, disorders and logically all will be made available to the appropriate authority," said Zenteno .
According to the Carabineros area chief, artists and festival goers are not in danger. “Those of us who are at risk are us, the police who are in front of the battle line, but the festival, you listened to the music, you are playing, singing, people are enjoying,” said Zenteno.
The clashes that left 23 injured police officers, 3 with serious fractures and major injuries, were recorded in the Plaza Vergara, opposite the Hotel O'Higgins, about 500 meters from the Quinta Vergara, where the festival takes place.
The authorities did not indicate whether there are injured protesters. More information is expected for this Monday.
CNN tried unsuccessfully to contact three hospitals in Viña del Mar to find out if they had received injured protesters.
Virginia Reginato, mayor of Viña del Mar, said "there are many businesses affected, many families" and that all damages are being evaluated. “Demonstrations can be made, correspond and we respect them, but it is crime and crime must be treated as such. That is why we will take legal action accordingly, ”Reginato explained.
The president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, resumed activities on Monday after a few days of vacation. He did not refer to what happened in Viña del Mar, but to violence in the context of the protests.
"I am sure that I interpret the vast majority of my compatriots by stating that Chile has already had too much violence, and that the time has come for a great agreement against violence, for democracy and for peace," the president said the morning Monday from the Palacio de la Moneda in the capital.
"Here the dividing line is not between government and opposition, it is much more meaningful and profound, the dividing line is between those who believe in democracy and who want to live in peace and those who practice violence and want to destroy democracy."
The Viña del Mar International Festival opened on Sunday and will end on February 28. Among the invited artists are Ozuna, Ana Gabriel, Pablo Alborán, Mon Laferte and Ricky Martin.
Viña del Mar